SEPARATION AND ENRICHMENT OF ACTINIDES US ING A PHOSPHONIC ACID POLYMER

A new method for the separation and enrichment of actinides based on t he use of polymer reagents is presented. In this study, poly(ethylenei mine methylphosphonic acid) was used for the interaction with actinide ions in the homogeneous phase. In conjunction with membrane filtratio n this reagent allows both the separation and the enrichment of actini des from dilute solutions. The retention profiles for the series of ac tinides U(VI), Np(V), Pu(IV), Am(III), Cm(III), Cf(III) were investiga ted at different pH. Retention differences between 0% and 100% were fo und depending on the actinide element and pH. Thus, these elements can be separated and enriched form aqueous solutions of binary or multi-c omponent mixtures.